Exercising device



Nov. 4, 1941; w. H.MAXWELL 2,261,172

EXERCIS ING DEVICE Filed Nov. 20, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 4, 1941 EXERCISING DEVICE William H. Maxwell, Newport Beach, Calif.

Application November 20, 1939, Serial No. 305,241

23 Claims.

This invention relates to exercising devices and relates more particularly to devices for exercising the muscles of the chest, back, neck, arms and shoulders. A general object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical and inexpensive exercising device of the character mentioned.

Another object of this invention is to provide an exercising device useful and effective in correcting round shoulders.

Another object of this invention is to provide an exercising device embodying a pair of bars to be grasped when the arms are extended from the users sides and supported for individual universal swinging movement to be useful in performing various exercises.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned halving simple, yet very effective means for resisting inward swinging of the bars toward one another from laterally extended positions, making it necessary for the user to actively employ the muscles of the shoulders, back and neck when drawing the bars inwardly or toward the sides from said extended positions. 7

Another and important object of the invention is to provide a device of the character referred to in which the bars are supported to be individually swung about spaced angularly related axes so that the bars may normally hang in idle positions and may be readily swung upwardly and forwardly, or upwardly, forwardly and laterally from said idle positions to the extended positions and then manipulated as desired, to perform various exercises.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned embodying two simple, compact assemblies or units each supporting a bar for free individual movement about spaced angularly related axes.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the character referred to in which the spring means may be easily and quickly adjusted to vary the resistance to operation of the individual bars and, if desired, may be disconnected to remove the spring resistance from the bars.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the character referred to that is simple and inexpensive and embodies a minimum number of parts.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of typical preferred forms and applications of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of one form of the invention with the bars in the extended or horizontal positions and showing the idle or down positions of the bars in broken lines. Fig, 2 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 2-2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the mounting member or body of the device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the pivoted members or carriers of the device illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a front view of another form of the invention with the bars in the extended position and indicating the idle or down position of the bars in broken lines. Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken as indicated by line 6-45 on Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating an alternative means for securing a spring to a bar and Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 88 on Fig. 7.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, of the drawings, may be said to comprise, generally, a mounting member or body l0, spaced carriers ll secured to the body [0 for pivotal movement about substantially horizontal axes, exercising bars I2 secured to the carriers H to swing about axes transverse of the said horizontal axes, and means l3 yieldingly resisting swinging of the bars l2 in one direction about the last mentioned axis.

The body Ill forms a mounting or supporting means for carrying the various other parts of the device and is adapted for ready attachment to a wall, supporting frame, or other support. The body Ill may be varied considerably in character and construction without departing from the invention. In accordance'with the invention the body l0 may be constructed of suitable sheet metal and may be a single, one-piece member. .As illustrated in the drawings the body It] may be a horizontally elongated part adapted to be arranged againsta wall W or other support. The major portion of the body It] may be flat to present a flat vertical forward face. The end portions M of the body 10 are preferably offset to be in a vertical plane spaced rearwardly from the plane of the major portion of the body, and thus facilitate the mounting or attachment of the body ID to the wall W, or other support. The mounting portions M are adapted to bear against the face of the wall W and may have openings for screws IE or other attaching members. The

mounting portions I4 bearing against the wall W space the major portion of the body II] from the face of the wall.

The body I is formed to have two horizontally spaced annular raised bearing ridges I6 projecting forward from the front face of the body I 0. The ridges are preferably positioned adjacent the end portions of the body. The bearing ridges I6 are rounded or curved in transverse cross section to present convex outer surfaces. Horizontal openings I1 are provided in the body Ill within and in substantially concentric relation to the annular ridges I6. It will be seen that the body I0 may be a simple member of sheet metal pressed, stamped, or otherwise worked to have the mounting portions I4 and the bearing ridges I6.

The carriers II serve to support. the bars I2 and the spring means I3 and are mounted on the body III to freely pivot or turn about substantially horizontal axes. There is a carrier I I arranged at the front of the body I!) to bear or ride on each ridge I6. The carriers I I may be alike and each carrier may include an inner part I8 and spaced radial fingers I9 projecting from the inner part I8. Pins 20 are passed through central horizontal openings 2P in the carriers II and extend through the openings I! in the body ID to pivotally support the carriers on the body. The pins 20 may have suitable heads on their forward ends for bearing against the front faces of the carriers II and the rear ends of the pins preferably project through the openings II. It is preferred to fix the pivot pins 20 to the body It]. In practice the pins 28 may be permanently secured to the body II] as by welding 2|. As illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the rear portions of the pins 20 may project rearwardly beyond the openings I1 and the welding 2I may be provided at the rear side of the body ID to secure the pins 20 to the body. The mounting portions I4 of the body I0 space the body forwardly from the wall W to leave ample space to receive the projecting parts of the pins 20 and the welding 2| so that the pin and the welding do not interfere with the wall W.

The spaced radial arms I9 of the carriers II are adapted to bear or ride on the bearing ridges I6. It. is preferred to provide raised bearing surfaces 22 of limited area on the rear sides of the arms I9 to ride on the annular bearing ridges- I6. The limited bearing surfaces 22 may be readily finished or ground to ride on the convex surfaces of the ridges I6 with a minimum of friction. The pins 20 are secured to the body ID by the welding 2| or by other means to holdthe bearing surfaces 22 against the ridges I6 so that the carriers II may operate or turn on the ridges I6 without rocking, tipping or chattering. It is to be understood, of course, that the carriers II turn freely on the pivot pins 20 and the bear-' ing ridges I6.

Each carrier I I is provided with a forwardly projecting finger or lug 23. The lugs 23 are preferably offset or spaced from the horizontal pivotal axes of the carriers II and, in practice, one arm The bars I2 are the principal operating parts of the device as they are adapted to be swung or manipulated by the users. The bars I2 are elongate elements preferably formed of tubular stock. The bars I2 are alike in shape and each bar has a straight major portion, a laterally pro-' jecting portion 25, and a transverse outer end portion 26 joining the portion 25. The transverse outer portions 2t preferably intersect the longitudinal axes of the bars I2 and form convenient grips or handles to be grasped by the user.

The inner ends of the bars I2 are attached to the carriers I I so that the bars may be swung about axes substantially transverse of the horizontal pivotal axes of the carriers II. The inner portions 26 of the bars I2 are flattened and are received in the yokes 24 with suitable working clearance. Pivot pins 21 are arranged in transverse openings in the yokes 24 to pass through openings in the flattened portions 26 of the bars I2. The pins 21 extend transversely of the longitudinal axes of the pins 20. Thus Where the bars I2 are extended and are substantially horizontal, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the pivot pins 21 are substantially vertical. The pivot pins 21 are spaced forwardly and laterally from the pivot pins 20 and the bars I2 are arranged to pass in front of the carriers I I so that they intersect the longitudinal axes of the pivot pins 20.

The means I3 are provided to yieldingly resist swinging of the bars I2 toward one another from their extended horizontal positions, illustrated in full lines in Fig. 1, and serve to resiliently anchor the bars I2 to the carriers II to normally extend in the proper direction in front of the carriers. The means I3 are in the nature of resilient spring means connected between the carriers II and the bars I2. Each carrier II is provided with a radial arm 28 substantially diametrically opposite its lug 23. Loops or eyes 29 are provided on the outer ends of the arms 28. The means I3 include extensible springs 30 connected between the eyes 29 and the adjacent or related bars I2. The springs 30 are preferably helical springs formed to offer substantial resistance to elongation. Hooks or loops 3| are formed on the inner ends of the springs 30 and engage in the eyes 29 of the arms 28 to anchor the inner ends of the springs to the carriers II. The outer ends of the springs 30 are adapted to be connected with the bars I2 at various points spaced longitudinally of the bars so that the springs may offer varying or different resistances to swinging of the bars. A series of longitudinally spaced openings 32 is provided in the inner portion of each bar I2 and the outer ends of the springs 30 are provided with loops or hooks 33 adapted to be entered in selected openings 32. The books 33 are removably engaged in the openings 32 and the hook 33 of a spring 30 may be engaged in any selected opening 32 of its bar I2 so that the spring 30 provides the selected resistance to swinging of the bar I2. It will be seen that the adjustment of the point of connection of a spring 30 with its bar I2 changes the leverage or mechanical advantage of the spring 30 over the bar I2 and the spring may be arranged to offer little or great resistance as conditions may require. The spring carrying arms 28 are diametrically opposite the arm carrying lugs 23, as described above, so that the springs 30 are subjected to little or no lateral flexure when the arms are pivoted on their pins 21. The loops or hooks 3I and 33 are free to pivot in their eyes 29 and openings 32 so that the springs 30 are subjected to little or no longitudinal flexure resulting from the arcuate movement or swinging of the outer ends of the springs about the pivot pins 21. The springs 30, of course, move bodily with the carriers I I and the bars I2 when the carriers are swung on their pivot pins 20.

In employing the device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the body Ill may be mounted so that the bars I2 may be manipulated or swung by persons in standing positions or in sitting positions. In exercising with the device the user faces the apparatus and grips the handle portions 26 of the idle depending bars I2 with his palms up. The bars I2 are then swung upwardly or upwardly and outwardly. In this connection it is important to note that the relationship between the pivot pins 21 and 20 is such that the bars I2 may be readily swung straight forwardly and upwardly. When the bars I2 hang in their idle positions the pivot pins 21 are substantially horizontal and in a plane substantially normal to the bars so that the bars may be easily swung upwardly and forwardly on these pins. With the bars raised to about shoulder-height they are swung outwardly or apart until the arms are extended horizontally from the sides of the body. The user assumes a vertical or good postural position with the body rigid and the arms extended, and leans forward to shifthis weight to the balls of his feet. This thrusts the body forward against the bars I2 and results in the application of tension or stretching forces to the muscles of the chest and shoulders. While leaning forward the user may rock back and forth'slightly to work the chest muscles and vary the tension on the same. The exercise just described is completed by returning the body to the vertical position.

The device may be employed to actively work and shorten the muscles of the back in the region of the shoulders. In exercising for this purpose the user assumes a position between the extended bars I2 with the arms extended horizontally, gripping the handle portions 25 The user moves his body forward to bring the shoulders slightly ahead of the line extending between the portions 26**. The bars I2 are then pulled or drawn toward the body, bending the elbows down. In performing this operation the resistance to movement of the bars I 2, offered by the springs 30, should be overcome as far as possible by the muscles of the back instead of those of the arms. Following the inward movement, the arms are returned to the extended positions and the exercise may be repeated.

It is to be understood that a, wide variety of exercises may be carried out by arranging the bars I2 at different angles and by manipulating the bars in various manners. The springs 30 may be disconnected from either the bars I2 or the arms 28, or both, to relieve the bars of all resistance and, if desired, the springs 39 may be replaced by similar springs offering different resistances to adapt the device for use by children and adults and to condition the device to perform various exercises.

The form; of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 may be said to comprise, generally, a mounting element or body III and two spaced units on the body ID each comprising a bracket 40, a carrier II mounted on the bracket 40 to pivot about a substantially horizontal axis, a bar I2 mounted on the carrier I I to swing about an axis transverse of the pivotal axes of the carrier and means I 3 yieldingly resisting swinging of the bar I2 in one direction about said transverse axis.

The body II] serves to support the two bar carrying assemblies or units to facilitate their simultaneous attachment to a wall or support. The body III is not essential in every case as the bar carrying units may be directly attached to a wall, frame, or other support. Where the body III is employed it may be a simple, elongate rectangular member, as illustrated. The body I!) may be formed of wood or any other selected material. Openings may be provided in the corner portions of the body IIl='= to receive screws or attaching members M for securing the body III to the wall or support.

The bar mounting units are intended to be attached to the body II] or to other supporting means in adjacent or horizontally spaced relation. The bar mounting means may be alike or identical to reduce the cost of manufacture. The brackets 40 form the mounting or supporting elements of the bar carrying units. The brackets 40 may be varied considerably in shape, construction, etc., without departing from the invention. In the particular construction illustrated the brackets 40 are round or discshaped in front elevation and have flat marginal flanges or rims 42 for bearing on the support or body Ill The disc-like brackets 40 are frusto-conical tapering forwardly from their peripheral rim s 42 and having flat vertical center parts 43. Cavities or sockets 44 occur behind the central bracket parts 43. Raised annular bearing ridges 45 are provided on the forward sides of the central bracket parts 43. The bearing ridges 45 preferably have flat finished forward faces. The brackets 40 are preferably rigidly secured to their support. Thus in the construction illustrated screws 46 are passed through openings in the rims 42 and are threaded into the body Ill to rigidly attach the brackets 40 to the body.

The carriers II carry the swingable arms I l and are attached to the brackets 40 to turn about substantially horizontal axes. The carriers II may be disc-like parts proportioned to cover the raised or central parts 43 of the brackets 40. The carriers II a are vertically arranged at the forward sides of the brackets 40 and are constructed to ride on the bearing ridges 45 with a minimum of friction. Raised or rearwardly projecting annular bearing ridges 4B are provided on the rear sides of the carriers II to cooperate with the bearing ridges 45. The ridges 46 preferably have flat finished rear faces which ride on the faces of the ridges 45.

The brackets 40 and their carriers II have aligned horizontal openings which receive pivot pins 41. The pivot pins 41 may have heads at their outer ends bearing against the forward faces of the carriers II and the inner ends of the pins are received in the sockets 44. The inner parts of the pins 41 may be distorted or peened over to secure the pins against displacement. The pins 41 preferably hold the carriers II firmly on the brackets 40 so that the ridges 46 evenly bear on the bearing ridges 45. A pair of spaced substantially parallel arms I! projects forwardly and laterally from each carrier Il The arms 11 are offset from the pivotal axes of their respective carriers and receive the inner ends of the bars I2 The bars I2 may be similar ,to the bars I2 being elongate parts of pipe or tubing provided at their outer ends with laterally projecting portions 25 and transverse portions 26*. The transverse portions 26 form grips or handles that may be grasped by the user to manipulate the bars. The inner ends of the bars I2 are flattened and then curled or rolled back to provide transverse eyes or openings 48. The flattened, rolled parts of the arms l2 and the adjacent unflattened portions of the bars are received with suitable Working clearance between the arms 11 of their respective carriers I l Pivot pins 49 secured in openings on the arms l7 pass through the openings 48 in the arms 12 to pivotally connect the bars with the carriers H The longitudinal axes of the pivot pins 49 are at right angles to or are transverse of the axes of the pins 41. The arms l2 turn bodily with the carriers ll when the carriers pivot on the pins 47 and are free to swing or pivot on the pins 49 of their respective carriers. The bars l2 pass in front of their carriers H in intersecting ject rearwardly and outwardly so that their outer 1 ends are adjacent the plane occupied by the bracket rims 42. The outer portions of the arms 50 have openings 52 receiving loops or hooks 53 on the inner ends of the springs 5|. The outer ends of the springs 5! are detachably and ad justably connected with the bars I2 In the construction illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 series of longitudinally spaced openings 54 are provided in the bars I2 and loops or hooks 55 on the outer ends of the springs 5| are engaged in selected openings 54. Each spring 5! may have its outer hook 553 engaged in any selected opening 54 to offer the selected or required resistance to inward swinging of its bar l2 The springs 5| are preferably such that they offer substantial resistance to elongation.

The operation or use of the device illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 may be the same as in the preceding form of the invention. When the device is not in use the bars l2 hang or depend, as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 5 so that the device occupies a minimum of wall space. When the device is to be used the bars l2 are brought to the extended positions illustrated in full lines where they may be manipulated as above described. The carriers l2 freely turn on the pivot pins 41 and the cooperating bearing ridges 45 and 46 dependably prevent rocking or chattering of the carriers. The bars l2 are free to pivot on their pins 49 and the springs 5| offer resistance to the swinging of the bars in one direction.

Figs. '7 and 8 of the drawings illustrate a means for adjustably connecting a spring with a bar [2 which means may, if desired, be embodied in either of the above described forms of the invention. The structure of Figs. 7 and 8 includes an adjustable clamp sleeve El arranged on the bar l2 The sleeve 6| is split or open at one side and has laterally projecting ears 62 at its open side. A clamp screw 63 is passed through transverse openings in the ears 62. A suitable head or handle 65 is fixed on one end of the screw 63 and a nut 65 is threaded on the other end of the screw. The spring 60 is provided with a hook or eye 66 that is received between the ears 62 with suitable clearance. The screw 63 extends through the eye 66 to connect the spring Ell with the bar I2 When the screw 63 is loosened the sleeve 6| may be slid or adjusted along the bar I2 Tightening oi the screw 64 secures the sleeve 6| in the selected position.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to-the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An exercising device to be mounted on a vertical support comprising a pair of carrier elements on the support, means supporting the carrier elements for movement about substantially horizontal axes perpendicular to the support, a pair of bars, and means securing the bars to the carrier elements for swinging movement about axes substantially transverse of said horizontal axes.

2. An exercising device to be carried by a vertical support comprising a pair of carrier elements, means supporting the carrier elements for movement about substantially horizontal axes perpendicular to the support, a pair of bars, and means supporting the bars on the carrier elements for individual swinging movement about axes spaced from and substantially transverse of said horizontal axes.

3. An exercising device comprising a body to be carried by a vertical support, a pair of carrier elements, means securing the carrier elements to the body to turn about spaced substantially horizontal axes perpendicular to the support, a pair of bars, and means supporting the bars on the carrier elements for individual swinging movement about axes transverse of said horizontal axes.

4. An exercising device comprising a pair of carrier elements, means supporting the carrier elements for movement about substantially horizontal axes, a pair of bars, means securing the bars to the carrier elements for individual swinging movement about axes transverse of said horizontal axes, and means normally yieldingly urging each bar in one direction about its said transverse axis when the device is in use.

5. An exercising device comprising a pair of carrier elements, means supporting the carrier elements for movement about substantially horizontal axes, a pair of bars, means securing the bars to the carrier elements for individual swinging movement about axes transverse of said horizontal axes, and resilient members connected between the bars and the carrier elements yieldingly urging each bar in one direction about its transverse axis when the device is in use.

6. An exercising device comprising a pair of carrier elements, means supporting the carrier elements for movement about substantially horizontal axes, a pair of bars, means securing the bars to the carrier elements for individual swinging movement about axes transverse of said horizontal axes and to extend across the faces of their respective carrier elements in intersecting relation to said transverse axes, and an extensible spring connected between each bar and its carrier element to yieldingly urge the bar in one direction when the device is in use.

'7. An exercising device comprising a pair of supporting elements to be mounted on a vertical support, mountings for the supporting elements carrying them to turn about substantially horizontal axes perpendicular to the support, a pair of bars, and means mounting the bars on the supporting elements forward of said mountings to swing about axes spaced laterally from and extending transversely of said horizontal axes sothat the bars may extend from the supporting elements in intersecting relation to said horizontal axes.

8. In an exercising device to be mounted on a vertical support, a pair of bars, and pivotal mountings for the bars supporting each bar to bodily move about a substantially horizontal axis to the support, spring elements, and means adjustably connecting the spring elements with the bars to yieldingly urge each bar in one direction when the device is in use.

10. An exercising device to be mounted on a vertical support comprising a pair of bars, mounting means supported on axes perpendicular to the support and supporting the bars for individual swinging, springs anchored to the mounting means, and means for connecting the springs with the bars at different points along the lengths thereof to vary the resistance of the springs to swinging of the bars.

11. An exercising device to be mounted on a vertical support comprising a pair of bars, mounting means supported on axes perpendicular'to the support and supportingthe bars for individual swinging, springs anchored to the mounting means, and means adjustable longitudinally of the bars connecting the springs with the bars to resist swinging of the bars.

12. In an exercising device,'a mounting men her, a carrier member supported on the mounting member to turn about a substantially horizontal axis, a raised bearing surface on one member cooperating with the other. member, and a bar swingably supported on the carrier member.

13. In an exercising device, a mounting member, a carrier member supported on the mounting member to turn about a substantially horizontal axis, a raised annular bearing ridge on one member in substantially concentric relation to said axis cooperating with the other member, and a bar s-upporteed on the carrier member from its inner end to swing about an axis transverse of said substantially horizontal axis.

14. An exercising device comprisinga body, spaced raised bearing surfaces on the front of the body, carriers mountedon the body to turn about substantially horizontal axes and rideon the bearing surfaces, exercising bars, and means supporting the bars on the carriers to swing about axes transverse of said substantially horizontal axes.

15. An exercising device comprising a body, a pair of carriers at the front of the body, means independently mounting the carriers on the body to turn about fixed substantially horizontal axes perpendicular to the body, a pair of bars, means supporting the bars on the carriers so each vcar rier supports one of the bars to swing about an axis transverse of the axis of turning of the car'- rier on the body, and a tension spring in connection with each bar to resist swinging of the bar in one direction relative to its carrier, the spring having one end connected to thebar at a point removed from its pivotal connection with the carrier andits other endanchored to the carrier. y

16. An exercising device comprising, apair of brackets to be mounted on a vertical support, a

carrier supported on each bracket for turning movement about an axis perpendicular to the support, a pair of bars, and means supporting the bars on the carriers for swingingmovement about individual axes transverse of 'the axes of turning of the carriers.

17. An exercising device comprising, a pair of brackets withmeans for securing them to a ver-,

tical support, a carrier supported on each bracket to, turn about a substantially horizontal axis, perpendicular to the support, a pair of bars, and

means supporting a bar on each carrier to swing from its inner, end about an axis spaced from and transverse of the axis of turning of the carrier.

18. An exercising device comprising, a pair of brackets, a carriersupported on each bracket to turn about a substantially horizontal axis, cooperating raised annular bearing surfaces on the brackets and carriers in surrounding relation to said axes, a pair of bars, andmeans supporting a bar on each carrier to swing from its inner end about an axis transverse of the axis of turning of the carrier.

19. In an exercising device to be mounted on a vertical support, a pair of bars, and pivotal mountings for the bars supporting each bar to bodily move about a substantially horizontal axis perpendicular to the support and to swing from its inner end about an axis transverse of said horizontal axis, the inner endof each bar being provided with an opening used inpivotally supporting the bar. 20. An exercising device to be mounted on a vertical support comprising a pair of bars, a mounting for each bar supported to turn about an axis perpendicular to the support, each mounting having an arrn,-each bar being carried by its mounting to swing relative thereto, and a spring. connected between-each bar and the arm of its mounting.

21. An exercising device to be mounted on a other end of the spring to the bar at various points along the arm.

22. An exercising device to be mounted on a vertical support comprising a pair of bars, mounting means supported on axes perpendicular to the support and supporting the bars for in 'dividual swinging, tension springs anchored to the mounting means, and means adjustable longi- V tudinally of the bars connecting the springs with the bars, to resist swinging of the bars.

23. An exercising device to be mounted on a vertical support comprising a pair of, carriers each supported for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular tothe support, two bars, one for each support, ine'ans pivotally connecting each bar with .a carrier, and means yiel-dingly urging each bar in one direction about its pivotal mounting when the device is in use.

WILLIAM H. MAXWELL. 

